Last year, at the Boston Marathon, Sharon Lockedy battled Helen Obiri to the finish line, taking her first Boston title in 2:17:22 to Helen Obiri’s 2:17:41.
This year was a different race for Sharon Lockedi. Clearly in very good form, Sharon exuded confidence as she hit the halfway point in 1:11:03 and was out of contention. Sharon Lockedy clocked a time of just 1:07.48 in 2:18:51.
“It was a little bit different I would say, I mean we start in control and then not really in control,” Sharon said after the race.
Sharon had a bit of a meltdown before the race. He had forgotten his watch, not realizing it until midway through the start, on the elite bus.
“In the middle of the race, I told my coach. “I don’t have my watch.” So we ended up asking someone and I got a watch.
Sharon Lockedy ran the 5k between 30-35k in 16:08, then dropped 15:28 for the 5k between 35k and 40k. That’s 44 seconds between second-place Sharon and Lois Kemnung.
Sharon Lockedi was asked what she was going to do to celebrate the race. He smiled and said. “Steven (Haas) said: “Where do you want to go?” Maybe Chanel? I don’t know.”
Sharon Lockedy is a great athlete. His torrid performance in 2025 was reinforced by his performance in 2026 as he was tested with a very different race.
In 2026, Sharon Lockedy had to stay patient and when she took off, it was decisive, dominant and showed who was in control.
Sharon Lockedy is nominated for Under Armour. His brand now has winners in the New York and Boston Marathons. There are 80 brands running, and fewer than a dozen have won major marathons.
Sharon Lockedy is building a solid reputation as a marathoner who can handle anything the field throws at her.
I sure hope she enjoys her Chanel shopping spree.
Sharon Lockedy, KEN, won the 130th Boston Marathon in 2:18.51. Sharon defended her title in 2025.
1. Sharon Lockedy, KEN, 2:18.51
2. Loice Chemnung, KEN, 2:19.35
3. Mary Ngugi-Cooper, KEN, 2:20.07
4. Mercy Chelangat, KEN, 2:20.30
5. Jess McClain, USA, 2:20.30
6. Irene Cheptai, KEN, 2:20.54
7. Worknesh Edesa, KEN, 2:21.52
8. Annie Frisby, USA, 2:22.30
9. Emily Sisson, USA, 2:22.39
10. Kerry Ellwood, USA, 2:23.38
11. Bedatu Hirpa, ETH, 2:23.58
12. Dakota Popen, USA, 2:24.04
13. Elena Headey, USA, 2:24.45
14. Cody Kieven, USA, 2:24.48
15. Amanda West, USA, 2:24.49
(Photos from Sharon Lockedy’s 2025 win, photos by Kevin Morris)
